Post Broward County and Las Vegas incidents with officers failing to act I would add this. Do some serious soul searching BEFORE the bad shit happens to really evaluate what you are willing to run toward. Then train like your life, that of those you work with, and those you serve depend on it because they do. You never get a heads up a week in advance to prepare for the bad thing. When it happens (and you better assume it will) you will come as you are, not as you wish you were. Thereís no shame in coming to the realization that itís not for you.

To all those out there still on the job... if you are going to assume anything, assume that someone on your next call is going to try to kill you. At some point, you will be right.

On all "disturbance" or domestic calls, we always parked somewhere that was not visible to the people, and walked in. This gives you time to determine what is going on, instead of rolling up and finding out the hard way. There were many domestic type situations where we were outside the house and neither people knew we were there, and we would hear all sorts of useful things, like the wives yelling at the husbands that "when the cops get here I'm going to tell them you XXXXX me and you are going to jail..." It's also easier, when you observe for a few minutes, who the real problem is. You can get a better handle on what is really going on.

So, count this as an educational experience, as we do with other OIS, and assume there is someone there that wants to do you harm. I did the same thing whenever I transported a prisoner. Assume that they are, at some point, going to try to either escape, or kill you. I had a guy actually tell me when he got to jail that was his exact plan, but he never had the chance due to my conduct during the whole transport. Never take your eyes off them, and never turn your back on them. Also, never allow someone to get back to their vehicle if you have arrested them, or are trying to arrest them. They are not going there to get a bouquet of flowers for you. Assume there's a weapon and act accordingly.

Be safe out there, and get home.

RIP Brother!

Great advice. I've gone as far as to have dispatch call back and tell the male party to walk outside after we've parked out of eyesight, walked and gotten into good cover and concealment (advantage of nightshift). Yell at them to lift up their shirt, most times they don't even know where I'm yelling from. Sounds like the Deputy was hit in the upper torso, which leads me to believe (assume/guess) it was a rifle. As lite as IV plates are these days, concealable IV plate frames might be the future.

Also, keep in mind the region of the state/county you're in. I work in Southern Lorain County. All the residents here know how to shoot, they all deer hunt, they all have shotguns and rifles. Come prepared to the fight that IS coming, not that MIGHT come.

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Kiowas are small, carrying just two people; they fly so low the two flying soldiers are practically infantrymen.

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"The real problem was being able to stick it out, to sit in an office under the orders of a wee man in a dark gray suit and look out of the window and recall the bush country, the waving palms, the smell of sweat and cordite, the grunts of the men hauling jeeps over the river crossings, the copper-tasting fears just before the attack, and the wild, cruel joy of being alive afterward. To remember, and then go back to the ledgers and the commuter train, that was impossible. He knew he would eat his heart out if it ever came to that."

Complacency kills. I responded to over 90,000 incidents as a street cop, and what constantly amazed me was the complacency of most other street cops I worked with.

Yes, put the damn shotgun in the vehicle at the start of the shift!

Put your damn notebook away before we knock on the door!

Yes, I know it's hot, but if you're wearing a vest, wear it properly. (Lost a friend due to this shit)

How do you fight complacency in others? I don't have an easy solution to that one.

It's become apparent to me that the only way for someone to fight off complacency is for the person in question to experience why being complacent is a big deal. There's a big problem in LE called self-deception. It goes hand in hand with complacency.

Went to court the other day and one of their city's Officers were walking around with no weapon and no vest. I went up to him, "bro, where's your gun and vest?" He said, "it's court man, calm down."

Yeah, right, because nothing has ever happened in a court/courtroom setting. I transfer ALL my call-out gear in my car every shift, it's a tremendous pain in the ass but, I don't know when or where the next Pulse Nightclub shooting is going to happen. Prepare accordingly.

When you're told to "be safe" on shift, understand you can't "be safe" in anything you do. Whether that's on your drive to work or stopping the bank, but you can "be careful."

Be careful new LE hopefuls, take in your situation, if something seems wrong, it probably is. Ask why, question everything people you serve say to you, leave no door open so you can close the door for any potential loophole someone WILL ask you on the stand. Don't lie, EVER. There nothing wrong with saying, I don't recall. You'll lose any credibility (Brady Law) with the court/prosecutors/jurors, once you are labeled as a cheat or lair you might as well find a new career. We don't need that type in this profession.

Good info nofear, thanks for a lifetime of service to your people.

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Kiowas are small, carrying just two people; they fly so low the two flying soldiers are practically infantrymen.